Joshua 21:17-26: a reflection

17Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands, 18Anathoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture lands: four cities. 19All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their pasture lands. 20The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21They gave them Shechem with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the man slayer, and Gezer with its pasture lands, 22Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth Horon with its pasture lands: four cities. 23Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, 24Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: four cities. 25Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its pasture lands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: two cities. 26All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their pasture lands.

This passage lists cities given to the Levites, and it reflects a striking arrangement: the Levites, the tribe set apart for God's service and the teaching of his law, were not given a territory of their own, but were assigned cities scattered throughout all the other tribes. So those who served God and taught his law were not concentrated in one place, but spread throughout the whole nation, present in every region, among all the people.

Notice the arrangement: God's servants were spread throughout, not gathered in one place. The Levites, who taught God's law and led in worship, were deliberately scattered among all the tribes, so that in every region, in every community, there would be those who knew and could teach God's ways, present among the people. God's servants were meant to be dispersed, present everywhere, a leavening influence throughout the whole nation.

That reflects something about how God's people are meant to function in the world. We are not meant to be gathered only among ourselves, concentrated in our own enclaves, separate from the world. Rather, like the Levites scattered among the tribes, God's people are meant to be spread throughout society, present in every sphere, workplace, and community, a leavening influence, salt and light, wherever they are. Do not withdraw into an enclave with only your own kind. Recognize that God has scattered his people throughout the world, present in every sphere, to be salt and light there. Wherever God has placed you, among people who may not know him, be one of his servants present there, a teacher of his ways by word and life, a leavening influence for good. God's people are spread throughout; be his presence where he has placed you.

Lord, the Levites, set apart for your service and the teaching of your law, were not given a territory of their own but scattered among all the tribes, so that your servants were present throughout the whole nation. Help me see that your people are meant to be spread throughout the world, not gathered only among ourselves. Keep me from withdrawing into an enclave with only my own kind, separate from the world. Like the Levites scattered among the tribes, help me be present where you have placed me, in my workplace, my community, among people who may not know you, as one of your servants there, a teacher of your ways by word and life, salt and light, a leavening influence for good. Wherever you have scattered me, help me be your presence there, spread among the world for your purposes.